French Unit To Pull Troops From Tajikistan

French and Tajik soldiers participate in a parade in Dushanbe in 2011.

French troops in Dushanbe who have been performing repair and maintenance on NATO aircraft on route to or from Afghanistan will leave Tajikistan by July 1.

Tajik news agencies reported on May 7 that the French Defense Ministry had informed Tajik authorities of the imminent withdrawal.

French troops already started departing from the Dushanbe airport last month.

The French contingent has been stationed at the airport since December 2001, providing support for foreign troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

The French Defense Ministry said nearly 11,000 flights in support of French forces in Afghanistan left the Dushanbe aiport since French troops were deployed there and that some 89,000 NATO troops and 14,500 tons of cargo transited the Dushanbe airport.

Based on reporting by Asia-Plus and Interfax